Exploring the Role of ROCK Inhibition in Corneal Edema Through Crosstalk Between Epithelial and Endothelial Cells.

The maintenance of corneal transparency and normal vision is dependent on preservation of epithelial and endothelial cell layer homeostases. Different types of corneal injury can induce swelling and losses in transparency. Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is one type of injury that is commonly treated with rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitors.

CRISPR/Cas12a-based genome editing for cyanophage of sp.

Efforts have been conducted on cyanobacterial genome editing, yet achieving genome editing in cyanophages remains challenging. Editing cyanophage genomes is crucial for understanding and manipulating their interactions with cyanobacterial hosts, offering potential solutions for controlling cyanobacterial blooms. In this study, we developed a streamlined CRISPR-Cas12a-based method for efficient cyanophage genome editing and then applied this method to the cyanophages A-1(L) and A-4(L) of sp.

Deep learning-based automatic image classification of oral cancer cells acquiring chemoresistance in vitro.

Cell shape reflects the spatial configuration resulting from the equilibrium of cellular and environmental signals and is considered a highly relevant indicator of its function and biological properties. For cancer cells, various physiological and environmental challenges, including chemotherapy, cause a cell state transition, which is accompanied by a continuous morphological alteration that is often extremely difficult to recognize even by direct microscopic inspection. To determine whether deep learning-based image analysis enables the detection of cell shape reflecting a crucial cell state alteration, we used the oral cancer cell line resistant to chemotherapy but having cell morphology nearly indiscernible from its non-resistant parental cells.

Therapeutic future of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy: An ongoing way to explore.

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is one of the most common corneal diseases that causes loss of visual acuity in the world. FECD is a genetically and pathogenetically heterogeneous disease that results in the failure of corneal endothelial cells to maintain fluid balance and functional homeostasis of the cornea. Corneal edema, central guttae formation, and bullae development are common corneal pathologies.

Investigation of topical amniotic membrane suspension and ReGeneraTing Agent on early corneal stromal healing in rats.

Innovative topical bioregenerative materials promoting corneal stromal healing provide valuable alternatives for treating patients with deep corneal ulcers, and particularly beneficial for those with a higher anaesthetic risk. This study aimed to investigate the effects of topical amniotic membrane suspension (AMS) and ReGeneraTing Agent (RGTA) on surgically induced deep stromal ulcers in rats. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 treatment groups: control group (topical normal saline, TID); AMS group (topical AMS, TID); RGTA group (topical RGTA, Q2D).

Characterizing the Robustness of Distinct Clinical Assessments in Identifying Dry Eye Condition of Animal Models.

Purpose: The study aims to characterize the robustness of distinct clinical assessments in identifying the underlying conditions of dry eye disease (DED), with a specific emphasis on the involvement of conjunctival goblet cells.

Methods: Seven rabbits receiving surgical removal of the lacrimal and Harderian glands were divided into two groups, one with ablation of conjunctival goblet cells by topical soaking of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to the bulbar conjunctiva ( = 3) and one without ( = 4), and the conditions of DED were assessed weekly using Schirmer test, tear breakup time (TBUT), tear osmolarity, and National Eye Institute (NEI) fluorescein staining grading. After 8 weeks, the rabbits were sacrificed, and the eyes were enucleated for histopathological examination.

Cyanopyridoimidazole/1,2-Aminothiol Click Reaction: A Novel Bioorthogonal Reaction for Synthesis of Radiotracers.

We herein described the design and synthesis of the cyanopyridoimidazoles (CPIs) as new bioorthogonal click reagents toward 1,2-aminothiol groups. Kinetic and density functional theory-based studies of the synthetic compounds revealed that incorporating an electron-withdrawing substituent into the CPI scaffold lowers its lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy, consequently increasing reactivity. Optimized CPI showed rapid reactivity and high stability in physiological conditions and has been demonstrated to be suitable for various radiotracer synthetic methods.

Inhibition of ferroptosis by POLE2 in gastric cancer cells involves the activation of NRF2/GPX4 pathway.

Gastric cancer results in great cancer mortality worldwide, and inducing ferroptosis dramatically improves the malignant phenotypes of gastric cancer. DNA polymerase epsilon subunit 2 (POLE2) plays indispensable roles in tumorigenesis; however, its involvement and molecular basis in ferroptosis and gastric cancer are not clear. Human gastric cancer cells were infected with lentiviral vectors to knock down or overexpress POLE2, and cell ferroptosis was detected.

A modified SELEX approach to identify DNA aptamers with binding specificity to the major histocompatibility complex presenting ovalbumin model antigen.

Aptamers have sparked significant interest in cell recognition because of their superior binding specificity and biocompatibility. Cell recognition can be mediated by targeting the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) that presents short peptides derived from intracellular antigens. Although numerous antibodies have demonstrated a specific affinity for the peptide-MHC complex, the number of aptamers that exhibit comparable characteristics is limited.

The ocular graft-versus-host disease: the path from current knowledge to future managements.

Background: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is one of the major complications of allogenic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The manifestation of ocular GVHD (oGVHD) is variable and may involve cornea, lacrimal gland, conjunctiva, eyelid, and/or nasolacrimal duct. We reviewed and summarized the current managements of oGVHD with specific focus on the emerging therapeutic advances.

Transmembrane Mucin 1 Blocks Fluorescein Ingress to Corneal Epithelium.

Purpose: To determine the role of transmembrane mucins in blocking fluorescein ingress to the corneal epithelium and its deficiency in contributing to corneal fluorescein punctate staining.

Methods: A dry eye model was established by extirpating lacrimal and Harderian glands in rabbits to correlate the expression of mucins with fluorescein-stained areas on the corneal button using immunofluorescence. Expression of transmembrane mucins was promoted in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) by culturing with the mucin-promoting medium (MPM) or diquafosol treatment.

[Predictive Value of Newly Diagnosed IgG Level in Patients with IgG-type Multiple Myeloma after Initial Treatment].

Objective: To explore the predictive value of newly diagnosed IgG levels in the recurrence of IgG-type multiple myeloma (MM) patients after initial treatment.

Methods: The clinical and pathological data of 91 patients newly diagnosed IgG-type MM who were hospitalized in the Department of Hematology of the Second People's Hospital of Yichang and Department of Oncology of The Affiliated Hospital of Jianghan University from April 2010 to March 2019 were collected. According to the median IgG level at the time of initial diagnosis, patients were divided into high IgG group and low IgG group.

The disposable bandage soft contact lenses therapy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography for management of ocular graft-versus-host disease.

Purpose: To identify the ocular surface changes of ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and examine the efficacy of disposable bandage soft contact lens (BSCL) treatment in ocular GVHD patients.

Methods: This study is a prospective, Phase II clinical trial. Nineteen patients diagnosed with chronic GVHD based on the NIH criteria and ocular symptoms of NIH eye score 2 or greater were enrolled.

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography for evaluating palisades of Vogt in ocular surface disorders with limbal involvement.

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) has been used to observe the morphology of the palisades of Vogt (POV) with satisfactory resolutions. In this study, we used SD-OCT to examine the microstructure of the POV in ocular surface disorders with limbal involvement. We detect subclinical limbal pathologies based on five parameters, including (1) decreased epithelial thickness, (2) loss of the sharp stromal tip, (3) loss of the smooth epithelial-stromal interface, (4) dilated stromal vessels, and (5) decreased POV density.

Animal models of dry eye: Their strengths and limitations for studying human dry eye disease.

Dry eye disease (DED), also called the keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is one of the most common diseases in the ophthalmology clinics. While DED is not a life-threatening disease, life quality may be substantially affected by the discomfort and the complications of poor vision. As such, a large number of studies have made contributions to the investigation of the DED pathogenesis and novel treatments.

Quantitative Spectrochip-Coupled Lateral Flow Immunoassay Demonstrates Clinical Potential for Overcoming Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Screening Challenges.

As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread around the world, the establishment of decentralized severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) diagnostics and point-of-care testing is invaluable. While polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been the gold standard for COVID-19 screening, serological assays detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in response to past and/or current infection remain vital tools. In particular, lateral flow immunoassay devices are easy to produce, scale, distribute, and use; however, they are unable to provide quantitative information.

Adaptation to Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Enhances Resistance of Oral Cancer Cells to Cisplatin by Up-Regulating Polymerase η and Increasing DNA Repair Efficiency.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response is an adaptive program to cope with cellular stress that disturbs the function and homeostasis of ER, which commonly occurs during cancer progression to late stage. Late-stage cancers, mostly requiring chemotherapy, often develop treatment resistance. Chemoresistance has been linked to ER stress response; however, most of the evidence has come from studies that correlate the expression of stress markers with poor prognosis or demonstrate proapoptosis by the knockdown of stress-responsive genes.

New COVID-19 saliva-based test: How good is it compared with the current nasopharyngeal or throat swab test?

As of April 15, 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization to a first saliva test for diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, the device developed by RUCDR Infinite Biologics laboratory, Rutgers University. A key feature that distinguishes the saliva-based test from nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal (throat) swabs is that this kit allows self-collection and can spare healthcare professionals to be at risk during collecting nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal samples, thereby preserving personal protective equipment for use in patient care rather than sampling and testing. Consequently, broader testing than the current methods of nasal or throat swabs will significantly increase the number of people screening, leading to more effective control of the spread of COVID-19.

Correlation of pterygium severity with IQ-domain GTPase-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) and mast cells.

IQ-domain GTPase-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) is a multidomain scaffold protein that is involved in cytoskeleton dynamics and tumor metastasis. Although the role of IQGAP1 in various cancers had been reported, the function of IQGAP1 in pterygium has not been studied. In this study, surgically excised pterygium and control conjunctival tissue from cataract patients were analysed by immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, and Western blot for IQGAP1 expression, mast cell counts, and microvascular count.

Human antigen R protein modulates vascular endothelial growth factor expression in human corneal epithelial cells under hypoxia.

Purpose: Corneal avascularity is critical for corneal transparency; therefore, a tailored process has been presumed to minimize corneal neovascularization (NV). In most cell types, the transcription of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is up-regulated, and the stability of VEGF mRNA is sustained by human antigen R (HuR) during hypoxia; however, whether such response applies to corneal epithelial cells is unclear.

Methods: Human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) and MCF-7 cells that serves as the control were incubated under 0.